JPH0685760B2 - Handle assembly for vacuum cleaner system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to a handle assembly for securing the vacuum hose of the vacuum cleaner.

[0002]

Vacuum cleaner systems for domestic and industrial use typically include a main vacuum canister, a vacuum hose, a suction nozzle, and a handle connecting the vacuum hose to the suction nozzle. There is. A locking ring profile is typically formed integrally with one end of the vacuum hose to facilitate attachment of the vacuum hose to the handle. The inner surface of the handle assembly typically includes a groove or notch portion that serves to accommodate a portion of the locking ring to secure the vacuum hose to the handle.

While the above method of connecting the vacuum hose to the handle allows the vacuum hose to be secured in a satisfactory manner,
There are some drawbacks. First, an additional manufacturing step is required because the locking ring is integrally formed with the end portion of the vacuum hose. This increases the manufacturing cost and complicates the manufacture of each vacuum hose. Second,
The area of the vacuum hose immediately adjacent to the locking ring may crack. If such a crack occurs, the entire vacuum hose usually must be replaced.

Vacuum cleaner systems such as those described above are often used with removably coupled electrically driven cleaning tools. To provide current to such a cleaning tool, the handle of the vacuum cleaner system can include a conductor that removably couples the electrical cable of the cleaning tool.
In the case of handles with electrical conductors, it is desirable to be able to automatically and selectively block current flow through the handle when the electrical cable of the cleaning tool is disconnected from the handle.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum hose for a system without the use of a locking ring or other similar fitting integrally formed on the outermost end of the vacuum hose. To provide a handle assembly for a vacuum cleaner system that can be secured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handle assembly which serves to secure the vacuum hose without the use of screws, adhesives or the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is that it can be used with an optionally selectable power cleaning tool, the current passing through the handle at a given time when the cleaning tool's electrical cable disconnects from the handle assembly. To provide a handle assembly with a device for automatically blocking the flow of the.

[0008]

The above and other objects are realized by a handle assembly according to the present invention. The handle assembly includes a handle housing having first and second portions and a plurality of ridges projecting from an inner surface of the housing portion. An elbow portion is contained within the handle housing and is adapted to receive a portion of a vacuum hose having a ribbed outer end portion and a relatively smooth inner surface. The elbow portion serves to hold the inner surface of the vacuum hose and facilitate the fixing of the hose to the housing. The ridge in the housing also abuttably couples to the ridged end of the vacuum hose to further aid in securing the hose to the housing and to prevent rotation of the vacuum hose within the handle. The gripping action provided by the elbow portion and the coupling of the ridge and ribbed end portions of the vacuum hose in the locked condition cooperate to allow the use of screws, glue or fittings at the end of the vacuum hose itself. Instead, it works to fix the vacuum hose to the housing.

The handle assembly of the present invention is a switch which serves to interrupt the flow of electrical current through the handle assembly at a given time when the electrical cable of the optional cleaning tool is removed from the handle assembly. Is further equipped.
The switch serves to allow current to automatically flow through electrical conductors located within the handle assembly when the electrical cable of the cleaning tool is coupled to the handle assembly.

[0010]

The numerous advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following description and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a multi-piece handle assembly 10 according to the present invention is illustrated. Further illustrated is a flexible ribbed vacuum hose 12, an optional selectable tubular removable elongated rod 14, a main vacuum canister 15, and an optional selectable electric cleaning tool 16. Has been done. The handle assembly 10 includes a hand-gripable handle portion 18 adapted to be securely gripped with at least one hand. Handle assembly 1
In order to use the 0, the handle portion 18 is grasped and moved forward and backward so that the combined cleaning tool 1
Move 6 forward and backward along the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum force from the main vacuum canister 15 draws dust through the cleaning tool 16 and carries it up through the elongated elongate rod 14 and handle assembly 10 and attached vacuum hose 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, details of the vacuum hose 12 coupled to the inner surface 20 of the first handle portion 22 of the handle assembly 10 are shown. The handle assembly 10 includes a tubular annular elbow portion 24 having first and second ends 26, 28 and a shoulder portion 29 circumscribing the second end 28 thereof. An integrally formed annular groove 31 is provided, which is lockably coupled to the shoulder portion 29 so that when the handle assembly 10 is assembled, the elbow portion 29 is attached to the handle assembly 1.
Hold firmly within 0. The elbow portion 24 has a relatively smooth outer surface and is preferably injection molded of plastic, but can be formed of various materials such as metal. The handle portion 22 is also preferably injection molded from plastic.

The inner surface 20 of the first handle portion 22 further comprises a number of annular parallel ridge portions 30 integrally formed with the longitudinal annular grooved passage portion 32 of the handle first portion 22. There is. The passage portion 32 holds the elbow portion 24 as a whole and a part of the vacuum hose 12 therein. Ridge 30 is lockably coupled between rib portions 34. The rib portion 34 projects from the end portion 35 of the vacuum hose 12 and is formed integrally with the vacuum hose 12 and the screw structure in the right-hand direction. The rib portion 34 includes a protruding portion protruding from the independent current transmission conductors 37 a and 37 b and support wires 39 a and 3 accommodated in the vacuum hose 12.
9b (shown in FIG. 3). The support wires 39 each preferably consist of a single strand of elastic steel wire to maintain the shape of the vacuum hose and prevent the hose 12 from indenting during articulation during use. do. The vacuum hose 12 itself may be made of other vinyl-like material, but is preferably made of vinyl. The handle assembly 10 further comprises a "bell mouth" shaped end portion 45 which serves to further prevent the vacuum hose 12 from being compressed or crimped where it enters the handle assembly 10. The handle assembly 10 includes a first inner surface 38 having a number of ridge portions 40 (also shown in FIG. 4) that face opposite ridge portions 30 when the handle portions 22, 36 are assembled together.
It should be understood that it includes a second mating handle portion 36 (shown in FIG. 4) which is preferably identical to the handle portion 22 of FIG. The ridges 30, 40 clamp the vacuum hose 12 in the groove portion 32 when coupled to the first handle portion 22 via a screw 42 such that the vacuum hose 12 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise or Prevents twisting or disengagement from the handle assembly 10 during use of the handle assembly 10. This feature of the invention is further described below with respect to FIG.

An optional selectable female receptacle 41 and an optional selectable switch 46 are provided for coupling the electrical conductors 37a, 37b to the optional selectable power cleaning tool 16 and the handle It is desirable to house lockably within the assembly 10. Switch 4
6 is a normally open, twin-station, double-throw "snap-action" switch that has a spring-biased actuator 49 that connects the switch and allows current to flow to the optionally selectable electric cleaning tool. Is desirable. The actuator can be projected through a part of the hole of the female receptacle 41. Switch 46 preferably has a current rating of about 20 amps. Such a switch is the McGill Manufacturing Combing Company of Valparaiso, Indiana.
pany).

The switch 46 includes a wire nut 52,
Further provided is a pair of conductors 48, 50 which are coupled to the conductors 37a, 37b via 54. The switch 46 is further electrically coupled to the female receptacle 41 via conductors 56, 58. These conductors 56, 58, switch 46, conductors 48, 50, receptacle 41, and conductors 37a, 3
7b together form a series circuit, by means of which a current can flow in the male plug 60 which engages the electric cable 62 of the electric cleaning tool. The electric current flows when the plug 60 is inserted into the receptacle 41 and the actuator 4
9 is pushed outward by the plug body, so that the switch 46 can be connected. Thus, the switch 46 provides a means of sensing the coupling of the electrical cable 62 and the receptacle 41. In this way, switch 4
When the male plug 60 of the electric cable 62 is detached from the receptacle 41, 6 controllably cuts off the flow of current to the receptacle 41, and plugs the plug 60 into the receptacle 41.
It can be made to flow when inserted inside. Thus, while the receptacle 41 is in use of the system 10,
In case of contact with water or other liquid medium, and plug 6
The system is not damaged while the 0 is removed from the receptacle 41.

However, while switches have been described which require physical contact between the power cord plug body and the switch contacts or actuating levers, other switch mechanisms will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, if it is desired to prevent physical contact between a portion of the power cord plug body and the switch assembly itself, a proximity cord switch or an electromagnetically actuated switch, both well known in the art, may be used in the present invention. Can be easily adopted. or,
Although only two conductors 37a, 37b are shown in the embodiments shown in the drawings, there are some applications in which a larger number of conductors (ie 3 or more) are required. Furthermore, two conductors 37a, 37b and two support wires 39a, 39
Although b is shown (FIG. 3), the rib portion 34 can be easily formed by a larger or smaller number of conductors 37 and support wires 39.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the vacuum hose 12
Further comprises a relatively smooth inner surface 43 (shown more clearly in FIGS. 3-4) that can slide over the first end portion 26 of the elbow portion 24. The relatively smooth outer surface of the elbow portion 24 allows the elbow portion 24 and the end 35 of the vacuum hose to be inserted thereon prior to placing the vacuum hose 12 between the handle portions 22,36. Sliding the end portion 35 of the vacuum hose 12 over the elbow portion 24 generally involves grasping the end portion 35 of the vacuum hose 12 by hand and placing it over the first end 26 of the elbow portion 24. Simultaneously with pressing, the vacuum hose 12 is simultaneously rotated counterclockwise with respect to the first end 26 of the elbow portion 24. Rotating the vacuum hose 12 counterclockwise, combined with the slight friction imparted by the outer surface of the elbow portion 24, and the fact that the ribs 34 of the vacuum hose 12 are threadwise oriented in the right hand direction. , The overall cross-sectional diameter of the vacuum hose 12 is slightly increased, which allows the hose to be slidably biased about the first end 26 of the elbow portion 24.

The vacuum hose 12 includes a first portion of the elbow portion 24.
The slight friction between the outer surface of the elbow portion 24 and the inner surface 43 of the vacuum hose 12 when rotated counterclockwise with respect to the end 26 of the vacuum hose 12 increases the flexibility of the vacuum hose 12 and the rib portion 34. Combined with the right-handed thread-like orientation, the vacuum hose 12 is further "wound" on itself, further reducing its cross-sectional diameter. In this way, the vacuum hose 1
When attempting to rotate the vacuum hose 12 clockwise relative to the first end 26 of the elbow portion 24 while positioning the second end portion 35 over the first end 26 of the elbow portion 24, The cross-sectional diameter of the vacuum hose 12 is slightly reduced, which prevents the vacuum hose 12 from rotating clockwise.
Thus, when the handle assembly 10 is assembled (ie, the first and second housing portions 22, 36 are secured together with the vacuum hose 12 and elbow portion 24 therebetween), the vacuum hose 12 is Slidably engaging over the elbow portion 24 and the ridge portions 30, 40
Cooperate with the ribbing portion 34 of the vacuum hose 12 in cooperation with the vacuum hose 12 to handle the handle assembly 10.
It serves to prevent clockwise and counterclockwise rotation within and to prevent the vacuum hose 12 from being accidentally pulled out of the handle assembly 10 during use.

The above-described method of fixing the vacuum hose 12 is
It provides a number of significant advantages that improve the usability and durability of the handle assembly 10. The main advantage of the present invention is a screw adapted to fit over one end of a vacuum hose,
There is no need to use glue and specially shaped end fittings. This significantly simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacturing the handle assembly used to connect the vacuum hose to the cleaning tool. Furthermore, because no special end fittings are used on one end of the vacuum hose itself,
If a hose cracks near the handle assembly 10, the vacuum hose can be easily and inexpensively repaired. Such repairs can be made by cutting off a portion of the vacuum hose and reattaching the vacuum hose 12 within the handle assembly 10 before cracking. Conductor 37
a, 37b also includes switch 46 via wire nuts 52, 54 or any other commercially available joining means known in the art.
Can be reconnected to. A vacuum hose that employs a special fitting at its end must be discarded in its entirety when it is discarded, which requires replacement of the entire vacuum hose. At the point where the vacuum hose is joined to the special end fitting, as a result of the bending of the vacuum hose, cracks may occur in that part of the vacuum hose, so in the case of the present invention no special end fitting is required. Therefore, the durability of the vacuum hose itself is improved. In this way, the vacuum hose 12
The absence of a fitting secured at one end of the handle assembly 1 reduces the likelihood of cracking where such fitting and vacuum hose would normally be joined together.
Further improve the durability of 0.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the vacuum hose 12
It is clearly understood that the rib portion 34 of the lockable portion 34 lockably couples with the ridge portion 30 within the first handle portion 22. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing the first and second handle housing portions 22, 36 joined together and the rib portion 34 of the vacuum hose 12.
It is understood that the annular nature of the ridge portions 20, 40 that lockably couple with the.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Thus, although the present invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, as persons of ordinary skill in the art can read and understand the drawings, the description and the claims. Variations of will be apparent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a handle assembly of the present invention with an extension rod, a cleaning tool attachment and a vacuum canister.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the housing portion of the handle and a partial schematic view of the vacuum hose of the handle system.

3 is a cross-sectional end view of the handle assembly of the present invention taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the handle assembly of the present invention taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Handle Assembly 12 Vacuum Hose 14 Extension Bar 15 Main Vacuum Canister 16 Electric Cleaning Tool 18 Handle Part 20 Inner Surface 22 Handle Part 24 Elbow Part 26 End 28 End 29 Shoulder Part 30 Ridge Part 31 Annular Groove 32 Groove Part 34 Rib Part 35 end portion 36 handle portion 37a current transmission conductor 37b current transmission conductor 38 inner surface 39 support wire 39a support wire 39b support wire 40 ridge 41 female receptacle 42 screw 43 inner surface 45 end portion 46 switch 48 conductor 49 actuator 50 conductor 52 wire nut 54 Wire nut 60 Male plug 62 Electric cable

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Stephen John Wood 205, Cadillac, East Bremer Street, Michigan, USA 205 (72) Inventor Craig Richard Cummins, Michigan, USA 49601, Cadillac, Farrer Street 854

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A handle assembly for a vacuum cleaner system for articulating a cleaning tool, said handle means comprising an inner surface having at least one protruding ridge portion and a grooved portion. Cleaning hose means for sucking dust, the hose means having an outer ribbed portion that lockably engages with the ridge portion when the hose means is fixed to the handle means, and the vacuum hose means Elbow portion means having first and second ends for engaging a nozzle of a tool, the elbow portion means housed within the handle means, lockably engaged with the grooved portion of the handle means, An elbow portion means having a shoulder portion for retaining an elbow portion means within the handle means, the second end portion of the cleaning tool Adapted to be engageable with the nozzle such that the elbow portion means can engagably receive one end portion of the hose means on a first end thereof, the first end of the elbow portion means Part acts to grip the end portion of the hose means, whereby the gripping action imparted by the elbow portion means and the hose means and the ridge portion engage in the lockable manner. Handle assembly coacting to secure the hose means to the handle means of the handle assembly. 2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the ridge portion comprises a plurality of independently projecting ridges, the ridge being disposed parallel to the ribbed portion of the hose means, A handle assembly for preventing the hose means from rotating clockwise and counterclockwise within the handle means. 3. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein said elbow portion means provides an annular elbow portion, said hose means provides a relatively smooth inner surface, and said annular elbow portion comprises said hose. Operatively receives the inner surface of the end portion of the means such that the annular elbow portion receives the end portion of the hose means in the engageable manner, thereby causing the annular elbow portion to receive the hose. A handle assembly, characterized in that it grips the end portion of the means, thereby helping to secure the hose means to the handle assembly. 4. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the hose means comprises a vacuum hose. 5. The handle assembly of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of conductors extending through the vacuum hose. 6. The handle assembly of claim 3, wherein the inner surface of the housing means is adapted to telescopically accommodate a portion of the ribbed outer end portion and a portion of the annular elbow portion. The handle assembly further comprising a longitudinally disposed passage portion. 7. The housing assembly of claim 5, wherein the electrical receptacle is lockably disposed within the housing means and between the electrically coupled electrical receptacle and the plurality of electrical conductors. An intervening switch that is closed when the power cord of the electric cleaning tool is coupled to the electrical receptacle to allow current to flow through the electrical receptacle and when the power cord is removed from the receptacle. And a switch that serves to prevent current from flowing to the electrical receptacle. 8. The handle assembly of claim 7, wherein the switch is an actuator spring biased to engage the power source when the power cord is coupled to the electrical receptacle. A normal open switch having the actuator arranged to detect engagement of the power cord, whereby the actuator is engaged with the power cord to close the normal open switch; And a handle assembly that detects the engagement between the power cord and the electrical receptacle by activating the actuator of the normally open switch by releasing the connection of the electrical receptacle. 9. A handle assembly for a vacuum cleaner system comprising a vacuum hose having a ribbed outer end portion and a relatively smooth inner surface, and an inner wall having a plurality of ridge portions and groove portions. A housing for receiving the ribbed end portion of the vacuum hose and lockingly engaging the ribbed outer end portion of the vacuum hose such that the vacuum hose is within the handle assembly housing. Lockably engages the groove portion of the inner wall with the handle assembly housing adapted to prevent axial rotation thereof, thereby securing the elbow portion within the handle assembly housing. An elbow portion having a shoulder portion adapted to receive the ribbed outer end portion of the vacuum hose in an engaged state. And a grip on the relatively smooth inner surface of the vacuum hose, thereby gripping the vacuum hose with the elbow portion, and with the ridge portion of the inner surface of the handle assembly housing. A handle assembly that cooperates to secure the vacuum hose to the handle assembly. 10. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the ridge portion lockably engages the ribbed outer end portion of the vacuum hose, whereby the ribbed outer end of the vacuum hose. A handle assembly comprising first and second plurality of ridges facing each other that prevent the portions from rotating axially. 11. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the elbow portion is an annular elbow portion. 12. The handle assembly according to claim 11,
A housing assembly, wherein the groove portion of the handle assembly housing comprises an annular groove portion that serves to telescopically receive the ribbed outer end portion and the annular elbow portion of the vacuum hose. 13. A vacuum hose having a multi-parted handle for a vacuum cleaner system, having a ribbed outer end portion and a relatively smooth inner surface, the vacuum hose further comprising a plurality of conductors. And a first handle housing portion and an engaging second handle housing portion, the first and second handle housing portions facing oppositely in an annular groove portion facing oppositely. An annular elbow portion further comprising a ridge portion, the groove portion further including facing groove portions, and further including a shoulder portion, the annular elbow portion being telescopically disposed within a portion of each of the annular passage portions. In addition, when the handle housing portion is engageably engaged, the shoulder portion can be locked by engaging the groove portion with the groove portion. Affixed and further having the annular elbow portion adapted to receive a portion of the end portion of the vacuum hose, the ridge portion lockingly engaging the ribbed outer end portion; An electrical receptacle cooperating to secure the vacuum hose to the housing assembly and further lockably received within the first and second handle portions when the handle portion is assembled; A normal open switch housed in the first and second handle housings, interposed between the handle housings, and electrically coupled to the electrical receptacle and the conductor, the power cord for an electric cleaning tool. Further comprising an actuator adapted to close the normally open switch when the plug of the plug is inserted into the electrical receptacle. And a said normally open switch, said actuator, when the plug of the power cord is removed from the electrical receptacle, it serves for opening the switch,
As a result, the actuator has a function of detecting an engaged / disengaged state of the plug of the power cord with respect to the electric receptacle.